Release of two preliminary FY 2018 wage index files: 1) unaudited
FY 2014 Worksheet S-3 wage data file, and 2) 2013 occupational mix survey data. The FY 2014 wage data file includes Worksheet S-3 wage data from cost reports submitted to HCRIS through approximately May 9, 2016. The CY 2013 occupational mix file consists of survey data that was included in the FY 2017 April 21, 2016 PUF. The files exclude hospitals designated as CAHs as of May 2016.

Notice sent from CMS to MACs regarding the September 2, 2016, deadline for hospitals to request revisions to the wage index data as reflected in the preliminary files. Notice must be forwarded by the MACs to hospitals they service to alert hospitals to the availability of the preliminary wage data file for their review and to inform hospitals of their opportunity to request revisions.

Deadline for the following:

• MACs to transmit final revised wage index data (in HCRIS hdt format) to DAC for inclusion in the final wage index. Worksheet S-3 wage data must be transmitted in HCRIS hdt format. Occupational mix data must be sent to DAC on the electronic Excel spreadsheet provided by DAC for specific use by MACs. All wage index data revisions must be transmitted to DAC by this date.
• MACs must also send written notification to hospitals regarding the hospitals' February 17, 2017, correction/revision requests by this date.

Deadline for hospitals to appeal MAC determinations and request
CMS' intervention in cases where the hospital disagrees with the MAC's determination. It should be noted that during this review, CMS does not consider issues such as the adequacy of a hospital's supporting documentation, as CMS believes that the MACs are generally in the best position to make evaluations regarding the appropriateness of these types of issues (which should have been resolved earlier in the process). Requests must be received by CMS by this date. A copy of the appeal with complete documentation shall be sent to the MAC. The request must include all correspondence between the hospital and MAC that documents the hospital's attempt to resolve the dispute earlier in the process. Data that was incorrect in the preliminary or January wage index data PUFs, but for which no correction request was received by the February 17, 2017 deadline, will not be considered for correction at this stage.

Note: Hospitals shall send an electronic and a hard copy of the appeal with complete documentation supporting their request; appeals submitted via fax will NOT be accepted. Electronic copies (including all supporting documentation) shall preferably be sent in PDF files to ensure compatibility with CMS software. Spreadsheets shall be sent in Excel.

Appeals shall be sent electronically to wageindexreview@cms.hhs.gov

Hard Copies shall be sent to the CMS Central Office at:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
c/o Wage Index, CMM/HAPG/DAC Room C4-08-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

Note: If the supporting documentation files being sent via email are too large to be sent through email, then send an electronic copy of the appeal letter, and most pertinent documents (spreadsheets and/or pdf files) to the email address above (and note in the email that complete supporting documentation will be sent via hard copy and USB drive); hospitals must still send a complete hard copy with supporting documentation to the address above. The hard copy and USB drive shall be submitted to CMS by the April 5, 2017 deadline.

Final FY 2018 wage index data compiled and sent by CMS to
MACs for verification. This verification of the final wage and occupational mix data by the MACs is necessary to ensure that the correct data for each hospital has been properly transmitted and received. The MACs will have approximately 1 week in which to complete the verification.

Notice sent from CMS to each MAC regarding the April 28, 2017, release of the final FY 2018 wage index data PUFs and the May 30, 2017, deadline for hospitals to request corrections to the wage and occupational mix data as reflected in the final files.

Notice must be forwarded by MACs to hospitals they service to alert hospitals to the availability of the final wage index and occupational mix data files for their review in the April 28, 2017 PUF, and to inform hospitals that this will be their last opportunity to request corrections to errors in the final data. Changes to data will be limited to situations involving errors by CMS or the MAC that the hospital could not have known about before review of the final April PUFs. Data that was incorrect in the preliminary or January wage index data PUFs, but for which no correction request was received by the February 17, 2017 deadline, will not be considered for correction at this stage.